Aubrey Huff, 2008 Topps Co-Signers #58

I took a look at the final vote totals for the American League MVP. Congratulations to Justin Verlander, who I've had the pleasure and the pain of watching in person as he made my Orioles look foolish. But as I peered down-ballot, I saw no pity votes for any Baltimore players. Matt Wieters didn't get tossed a tenth-place vote for his otherworldly defense and improving offense. No one scribbled in Kevin Gregg in eighth place on a drunken dare. I don't really think the O's deserved any love in the MVP discussion, but when David Freaking Robertson gets named on an MVP ballot AND a Cy Young ballot, you've got proof that some BBWAA members are strange creatures.

Really, the lack of Orioles in the MVP race is just another signpost of how far off-track the club has been recently. Aubrey Huff's fluke 2008 season earned him a 16th-place finish in that year's MVP vote, making him the only Oriole in the last five years to be so honored. Miguel Tejada's fifth-place finish in 2004 was the last time the Birds had a serious candidate, and even then he received no first-place votes. The last time any voting member of the BBWAA considered an Oriole to be the most valuable American Leaguer, it was 1991; 15 of them boosted Cal Ripken, Jr. to the top of the heap. I'd check and see how long it's been since a Baltimore pitcher was included on a Cy Young ballot, but I'd like to finish writing this post some time before Thanksgiving. Team success will breed more individual recognition, and I can't wait for the day when we don't have to drum up pride from obligatory All-Star selections and occasional Gold Gloves or Player of the Week nods. I long for a roster that even casual fans in other cities can identify by name and by face, and not just because they were good for another team a couple of years earlier.

Nick Markakis, 2008 Topps Co-Signers #11

With a team as young as the Orioles, one of the (many) problems has been the lack of a player to serve as a leader both on and off the field. The O's need someone to lead by example and to make others accountable when they're not giving an honest effort. If recent events have been any indicator, it looks like Nick Markakis is ready to step into that role.

Last week, the club's star right fielder allowed his frustration to boil over in an interview with the Baltimore Sun's Jeff Zrebiec. He openly questioned the offensive approach of the team without calling attention to specific players, noting that the swing-away philosophy wasn't working and that the successful teams in the division like the Yankees and Red Sox have patient, lengthy at-bats that wear down pitchers and allow them to wait for the right pitch to hit. For a player with a public image of being quiet and unassuming to speak out like that, he has to be frustrated with the status quo. I'm sure it got the attention of his peers.

Then two days ago, Nick requested a one-on-one meeting with owner Peter Angelos to discuss the direction of the Orioles. They ended up talking for three hours over lunch, with Markakis expressing the need for the young players on the team to have the support of a handful of productive, proven veterans. He also explicitly stated his desire to assume a leadership role on the team. However, actions speak louder than words. For all of the gripes about Angelos' meddlesome reputation as an owner, he has been notably hands-off with the players themselves. It's believed that the summit with Markakis was his first one-on-one meeting with a player since he and Melvin Mora discussed a contract extension four years ago. For a player to take the initiative to ask for such a forum with Peter is no small feat.

Not for nothing, but the Birds are 2-0 since the Markakis-Angelos pow-wow. They've come back from a three-run deficit and a six-run deficit, and scored 18 total runs after struggling most nights to push across three or four. I'm just saying.